Life & Work with Rachel Labovitch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Labovitch.

Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My first passion, growing up in the UK, was to be an actor where I studied European classical acting at the Drama Center London. Later in life, I longed to be a classical singer and eventually followed this dream when I relocated to New York in 2009. Part of this journey included traveling to Florence, Italy to study Italian opera and Graz, Austria to study German lieder. It wasn’t long before I was offered my first role with a New York-based company called Opera Slavica in their production of ‘Jenufa’, by Janacek. I then accepted roles in a variety of operas and recitals across the East Coast. I particularly enjoyed taking on projects that were off the beaten track such as singing for a burlesque troupe in New York or exploring lesser-known operas such as The Demon by Russian composer Anton Rubenstein with the Russian Opera Workshop, Philadelphia. Since living in Los Angeles I have worked with many local companies including Pacific Opera Project, Opera Santa Barbara, Mission Opera, Valley Opera and Performing Arts, and the Independent Opera Company. I have performed roles in operas by Mozart, Bellini, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Gounod, Bizet, and Britten to name a few. In regards to religious music such as oratorios, I have been the alto soloist for Mozart’s Requiem and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. I am also the cantor for St Athanasius Episcopal church in Echo Park, where I perform a different oratorio selection or anthem each Sunday.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is a hugely competitive industry with an abundance of talented singers vying for the same jobs so becoming a professional musician in this field is no easy feat. The road is one of hard work and practice, However, I always come back to remembering, it is the sheer joy of making music that is important to me. Having the opportunity to bring these composers’ gorgeous works to life, is a great privilege and gives me a high!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a lyric mezzo-soprano so in fact many of my roles are what they call, ‘pants roles’, women playing adolescent men. An example of these roles I have played includes Cherubino from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, ‘Romeo’ from Bellini’s ‘I Capuleti e i Montecchi’ and Stephano from Gounod’s ‘ Romeo et Juliette’. Of course, we do get to play women and one of the most famous mezzo roles is that of Carmen, the title character from Bizet’s masterpiece. I had the pleasure of debuting this role with local company ‘Vox Viceralis’ back in 2019.

Singing a principal role is a huge honor; however, I am also pleased to sing professionally in many choruses including Opera Santa Barbara, The Verdi Chorus, and Pacific Opera Project.

Opera can speak to everyone of all ages and I am proud to work with Pacific Opera Project’s educational program which brings opera to schools and with VOPA where I perform recitals in senior living facilities throughout the city.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Make sure the people you choose to work with, as in teachers and coaches are people you can trust with your voice. Singing is vulnerable, and for me training with someone whom I feel safe yields greater results.

If you want to sing, get involved with a local choir The Verdi Chorus will be auditioning new volunteer singers next spring.

If you just want to be a listener, LA has so much to offer in the way of opera and classical singing in general. Check out what’s playing now with LA Opera or the Pacific Opera Project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rachellabovitch.com
• Instagram: @rachelclare333

Image Credits
Tim Sayre Naomi Shon